New York City Timeline

Synthesized from http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/zone/zonehis.shtml

1870's and 80's

• Residents 'protest loss of light and air as tall residential buildings begin to appear in Manhattan'

Early 1900's

• Housing shortages, rush of immigrant populations, industry encroaching on private property

1901 - Tenement House Act

• Height restrictions on residential buildings as a result of previous protests

1916 - Zoning Resolution

• Established height and setback controls
• Designated residential areas be separated from other specific industries

1961 - Zoning Resolution (II)
Old resolution didn't address mass transit, automobiles, and increased use of new technologies
Reduced the residential density capabilities of NYC, particularly at edges of city

• Parking requirements
• Designated open space opportunities
• Said to have 'sometimes resulted in buildings that overwhelm surroundings'
• Incentive zoning
• Gave extra floor space bonuses for buildings to build public plazas
• Did not always provide public benefit (not always 'useful or attractive')
• Business districts
• High-rise office buildings were allowed large, open floors

Currently
Current attitude: flexible. 'Cities never stand still, nor should zoning.'

• Contextual zoning tools
• Preserves character of established neighborhoods'
• Specialized Districts
• Lower Density Growth Management
• Protects from rapid growth in outlying regions that have no access to public transit
• Inclusionary zoning incentives
• To provide for affordable housing
• Retrofitting to provide housing
• Dormant buildings transformed into housing to provide for increased density